Lives of Consequence
Mitchell M. Holland '83
With more experience in human remains identification cases than almost any other forensic DNA scientist in the world, Mitchell M. Holland '83 has developed novel DNA-extraction approaches that have accelerated the accurate identification of criminals and victims around the world. As the Director of the Forensic Science Program at Penn State and the Founder of DNA Consultants, Holland has dedicated his career to working on some of the most complex cases in history, including the identification of the victims of the 9-11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Vietnam Unknown Soldier, 1st Lieutenant Michael Blassie, in 1998.
After graduating from Hobart in 1984 with a bachelor's degree in chemistry, Holland went on to earn his Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Maryland. After completing his postdoctoral fellowship at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Holland was hired by the Armed Forces DNA Identification Laboratory (AFDIL) in Rockville, Md.
From 1991-2000, Holland held various positions at the AFDIL, including Scientific Laboratory Director from 1993-2000. At AFDIL, Holland helped identify the remains of the last Russian Tsar, Nicholas Romanov, and refute the identification of Anna Anderson Manahan as the long-lost biological daughter of the Romanov family, Anastasia. The main focus of the work at AFDIL was the identification of U.S. military personnel killed in Vietnam, Korea, and as a result of conflicts during World War II. AFDIL continues to be responsible for the DNA identification of every U.S. military soldier killed while serving his/her country today. It was at AFDIL that Holland and his colleagues developed his novel mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequence analysis to identify biological evidence. Since its conception, laboratories worldwide have adopted this method of analysis, especially to assist in the identification of U.S. military personnel.
In 2000, he became the Laboratory Director of The Bode Technology Group in Springfield, Va., one of the largest forensic DNA laboratories in the U.S., providing DNA identification services to public agencies and private citizens. Bode specializes in forensic casework, convicted offender databanking, forensic research, product development and victim identification in recent mass fatality incidents (MFIs). Holland oversaw the laboratory activities at Bode, as well as the IT, applied research, and wet-lab product development groups. In 2003, Holland was promoted to the Senior Vice President of Operations while continuing to serve as the Laboratory Director until 2005.
While at Bode, he created a new DNA-extraction technique that helped to accelerate the process of identification of the more than 2,700 individuals who lost their lives in the Sept. 11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center.
In 2005, Holland founded Forensic DNA Consultants, a full-service consulting firm, providing assistance to investigators, attorneys, crime laboratory personal, and even the generic public in almost every area of forensic DNA analysis. Holland is the company's principal consultant.
In the same year, Holland was asked to help develop the Forensic Science program at Penn State, where he has since served as an Associate Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. In 2009, he was appointed director of Penn State's forensic science program.
Holland has published 40 peer reviewed journal articles, book chapters and other manuscripts. In addition, Dr. Holland has been qualified in numerous courts of law as an expert in forensic DNA analysis.
A Fellow in the American Academy of Forensic Sciences, Holland has served as an associate professorial lecturer in the Forensic Science Department at the George Washington University, and has been an adjunct faculty member at other colleges and universities. He has been on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Forensic Sciences and is a member of the Advisory Board of the International Journal of Legal Medicine. He has held positions on governmental and company advisory boards, including DMORT and Identigene Inc., and has been recognized by the FBI and NYC Office of Chief Medical Examiner for his work.